Baat Cham Dao ~ eight chopping knives technique

The eight chopping knives techniques or butterfly knives form, so called because they fold together like butterfly wings, are performed with two broadswords. Most of the techniques in the form are similar and relate to their equivalent empty hand techniques, but are performed with simple Saam Bok Ma (Triangle stepping) footwork. Though developed during a time when fighting was literally a matter of life or death, the practice of the knife form today is not for street application, but to rather to enhance the practitioners understanding of Wing Chun theory, footwork and energy usage. Training with the butterfly knives greatly improves the power and precision of the student's unarmed movements, in addition to improving the balance, speed, and range of the student's footwork.

As the name implies, the form is divided into eight sections:

1. Cham Dao ~ Chopping Knives
2. Chark Dao ~ Stabbing Knives
3. Tan Dao ~ Palm up Knives
4. Gang Dao ~ Splitting Knives
5. Kwun Dao ~ Rotating Knives
6. Yat Chi Dao ~ Character "one" Knives
7. Mun Dao ~ Asking Knives
8. Cup Dao ~ Downward Knives